Network Rail has confirmed the successful completion of the first phase of works in a wider half a million-pound project to improve reliability on the mainline between Yeovil Junction and Axminster in the West Country.

A five-day closure, which was announced at the end of last month, saw key upgrades carried out by engineers who worked day and night at four different sites and included works to stabilise the cutting at Crewkerne tunnel in Somerset following a landslip in October 2021. New drainage and specialist six-metre-long nails were installed into the earth just outside the tunnel entrance to help lessen the impact of heavy rainfall.

Additional works to paint Weycroft River Bridge, which spans the River Axe, with a protective, anti-corrosion paint were undertaken and barriers were replaced at the Broom and Axe level crossing. The removal of wet beds (areas of waterlogged track stones that cause rough rides for trains) at Crewkerne level crossing were also carried out.

The second phase of the project will see a 16-day closure from Saturday 25 November to Sunday 10 December between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction, when approximately 457m of track on platform one at Gillingham in Dorset will be replaced and recycled and earthworks and works to stabilise the ground by Gillingham tunnel will be carried out. A further 1280 plus metres of track will be replaced between Tisbury, in Wiltshire’s Nadder Valley and Sherborne in Dorset and vegetation between Tisbury and Gillingham will be cleared. Maintenance work at the Wyley and Castleton level crossing is also planned.

Rail replacement services will run during the two-week line closure, customers are advised to check before they travel: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Mark Killick, Network Rail‘s Wessex route director, said: “I’m really pleased to see work progressing to improve reliability of the West of England line.

“Over the past three years, we’ve worked really hard to improve the resilience of the line by strengthening the cuttings and renewing old worn-out sections of track.

“This closure will enable our engineers to continue these important upgrades as part of our continued programme of investment on this line. I fully recognise that every time we close the railway it is disruptive for our customers, and we always work hard to find the time when it inconveniences the least number of people.

“These upgrades are crucial for the safe and reliable running of services on the West of England line in the future and I’m grateful to customers for their patience and understanding during this time.”

Peter Williams, South Western Railway‘s customer and commercial director, commented: “We’re very grateful for our customers’ patience during last week’s programme of improvements between Yeovil Junction and Axminster. With a 16-day closure starting on Saturday 25 November, this time between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction, we’d like to remind customers to check before they travel, as train services will be revised and rail replacement buses will operate.”